Yannick Nézet-Séguin receiving the Order of Arts and Letters of the French Republic
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The Philadelphia Orchestra, Todd Rosenberg

Yannick appointed Officer of Arts and Letters of the République française.

A very beautiful ceremony took place at the Philharmonie de Paris after a magical concert by Yannick with the Philadelphia Orchestra and Lisa Batiashvili, as part of their European tour. In the presence of Michelle Boisvert, Quebec delegate in Paris, many French personalities connected with music and some members of his family, Yannick Nézet-Séguin received the insignia as Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters of the French Republic which had been awarded to him by the French Minister of Culture Mrs. Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin on July 22, 2021, during the pandemic.
Yannick Nézet-Séguin qui reçoit sa médaille

It was Laurent Bayle, founder and former director general of the Philharmonie, who presented the insignia to Yannick in front of a hundred people, after giving a very touching speech which related Yannick's journey while emphasizing his exceptional talent, his humanity, the values he brings to all the orchestras he directs, in particular inclusion and diversity.

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« Nézet-Séguin nage dans cette musique (R. Strauss) avec une telle volupté et il entraîne avec lui musiciens et auditeurs avec un tel enthousiasme que personne ne peut résister. »

Claude Gingras, La Presse, 2015